Wash Your Hands

Medical folks have known for a long time that simple hand washing prevents a host of illnesses. Those signs you see in bathrooms aren't put there just to waste paper, hand-washing can effectively prevent the spread of colds, the flu, hepatitis, e.coli, etc.

For doctors and nurses, it just becomes habit. We wash our hands a lot, even if they don't really need it at that moment. It's a good, healthful habit, but it can be troublesome as skin does dry out with that much hand washing. Another reason for hand washing, after removing powdered gloves, that creepy powder clings to your hands...it makes some of us sneeze.

From Health Day News, a study out of Denmark (http://healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=531649) states that "Everyday workplace irritants such as chemicals, soaps and detergents can lead to prolonged sick leaves from work or even unemployment...Occupational hand eczema has become a disease of increasing importance during recent decades because of its serious consequences, such as frequent eruptions and risk of prolonged sick leave."

Ezcema breakouts aren't exclusive to Denmark, it's a common occupational hazard in most Western countries.


(Hmmm...what do they do in non-Western countries? I don't really want to know.)

The article makes one wonder why employers don't supply gloves and lotions to their workers, if for no other reason than to reduce the number of sick-days called in.

I'll keep washing, thanks.

If you don't wash your hands after a bathroom break...all I can say is, gross! If you're so unfortunate as to have me in the bathroom at the same time, expect to be embarrassed.